Franklin schools report IREAD‑3 gains and preview state education changes including a new math law and attendance rules
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Clendening and other district leaders reported a district IREAD‑3 pass rate above the state average, outlined retention and intervention policies tied to literacy, and summarized several new state laws affecting math acceleration, literacy endorsement pay, attendance enforcement and student transfers for athletics.
Dr. Clendening and the district’s literacy and operations leaders presented academic results and described recent state legislation they said will affect instruction and local policy.
The district reported a 90.2% IREAD‑3 pass rate last year, above the Indiana state average of 87.3% and above the district’s prior-year goal. A district presenter credited literacy coaching, intervention strategies and a partnership with Marian University for gains, and said the district plans to maintain literacy coaches for two more years.
“The district ended up at 90.2 which was a 6.4% increase from the prior year,” the presenter said, noting Union Elementary achieved 100% passing for a second year. District officials said their target is to reach the state goal of 95% by 2027 and that they are trying to accelerate progress.
Administrators also summarized recent laws from the Indiana General Assembly discussed at the meeting: a new math law that will require intervention strategies similar to the literacy law; a requirement to increase base pay for teachers holding a literacy endorsement; stricter attendance enforcement limits (five excused absences per semester before further action, with state exceptions for prearranged absences); and changes to student transfer rules that allow transfers for athletic reasons without prior restrictions.
Dr. Clendening said the district will implement the new math requirements and monitor impacts of the transfer rule and SCA‑1 property tax changes. He noted the district’s capital program and bond issuance to address deferred maintenance are intended to improve instructional time and student outcomes.
The district also reiterated virtual school enrollment figures (about 104 students) and encouraged in‑person attendance as the primary learning environment.